Free Republic

THE brother of Trooper David Pearce says the slain soldier had wanted to go to Afghanistan, but urged mourners at his funeral not to forget his mates still there. Prime Minister John Howard and Labor leader Kevin Rudd were among mourners today at the funeral for Trooper Pearce at St Stephen's Cathedral in Brisbane. Trooper Pearce was killed by a roadside bomb while driving a light armoured vehicle in Afghanistan's Oruzgan Province last week. The 41-year-old father of two from the Gold Coast was posted to the Brisbane-based 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment in October 2006 and was serving with the...

THE Australian solider killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan yesterday was a father of two young daughters. He had been in the forces for just two years. Trooper David Pearce, 41, of Brisbane, joined the Army at the age of 39 after three years with the Army Reserve. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters aged six and 11. Pearce was killed and another seriously wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated next to their military vehicle in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province yesterday, 6km from their base at Tarin Kowt. The family released a statement this morning. “David Pearce...